Virginia offshore lease process put on hold

The Department of the Interior has announced the postponement of public scoping meetings on the proposed Virginia offshore oil and gas lease sale.

The Department says it is temporarily postponing public meetings on potential offshore energy development activities so that information from the ongoing review of Outer Continental Shelf safety issues that the President has directed can be appropriately considered in those meetings. Additionally, the Minerals Management Service and its Gulf of Mexico staff are focusing their attention on the Deepwater Horizon incident and would be unable to conduct the meetings until a later date.